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The air was filled with excitement and achievement as Baldwin Wallace University celebrated Fall 2024 Commencement on Saturday, December 14.
The ceremony, held at 2 p.m. in Ursprung Gymnasium, marked a milestone for 243 Yellow Jackets — including 192 undergraduate and 51 graduate students — as they joined the ranks of BW alumni. That brings to 900 the number of new alumni just in 2024.
As graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, their academic triumphs were met with enthusiastic applause from family and friends.
Distinguished alumna and global business leader Zarema Jaramillo '00 delivered an inspiring keynote address drawn from life lessons that included the courage and perseverance she needed as a 12-year-old fleeing ethnic war in Azerbaijan for a new life in the United States.
Jaramillo shared that she almost didn't go to college. But after graduating from BW, she carved out an impressive career in antitrust and competition law, bridging the worlds of international commerce and regulatory oversight with the help and support of important mentors.
She encouraged the graduating class as they stepped out into the world to carry the lessons she learned "of staying resilient, seizing opportunities while taking some risks, and asking for or accepting help from others."
The Class of 2024 showcased remarkable academic achievement, with 65 students earning Latin honors. Twenty-five graduates achieved the prestigious summa cum laude distinction with GPAs of 3.90 or higher, while 24 earned magna cum laude honors and 16 achieved cum laude status.
The ceremony also recognized 16 members of the selective Dayton C. Miller Honor Society and a graduate from the Honors Program for their exceptional scholarly accomplishments.
The Class of 2024 also participated in other time-honored BW graduation customs.
The ceremonial turning of tassels marked their transition from students to alumni, while the addition of a teal ribbon to the historic "ring of ribbons" — a tradition dating back to 1915 — symbolically connected the Class of 2024 to generations of BW graduates.
The day's festivities began with a moving baccalaureate service at Lindsay-Crossman Chapel, featuring musical performances and readings by the BW community. Dr. Lisa Henderson, associate provost, shared words of wisdom with the graduating class during the reflective ceremony.
Following the service, graduates and their loved ones gathered in the Strosacker Hall union ballroom for the President's Reception. The ballroom buzzed with excitement as families captured photos and shared in the joy of the day's achievements over refreshments.
Moments from commencement can be found on BW's Instagram and Facebook pages, where the university community continues to celebrate the accomplishments of its newest alumni. Watch the livestream video replay of the commencement ceremony.
